Removable tower sleeve

Abstract

A tower sleeve for sliding engagement with a tower that defines a tower longitudinal axis includes a main body that defines a body longitudinal axis and a channel longitudinally extending therethrough for slidably and selectively receiving at least part of a longitudinal section of the tower therein with the body axis generally parallel to the tower axis. A closing body connectable to said main body is movable between a first limit position and a second limit position relative to the main body. The closing body at least partially closes off the channel when in the first limit position so as to secure the sleeve in sliding engagement with the tower inside the channel, and opens up the channel when in the second limit position so as to allow the sleeve to engage and disengage from the tower in a direction generally transverse relative to the body axis.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A tower sleeve for sliding engagement with a tower, said tower defining a tower longitudinal axis, said tower sleeve comprising: 
 a main body, said main body defining a body longitudinal axis, said body defining a channel longitudinally extending therethrough for slidably and selectively receiving at least part of a longitudinal section of the tower therein with said body axis generally parallel to the tower axis;    a closing body connectable to said main body, said closing body being movable between a first limit position and a second limit position relative to said main body, said closing body at least partially closing off said channel when in said first limit position so as to secure said tower sleeve in sliding engagement with the tower inside said channel, and opening up said channel when in said second limit position so as to allow said tower sleeve to engage and disengage from the tower in a direction generally transverse relative to said body axis.    
     
     
         2 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said main body defines generally opposed first and second longitudinal body ends, said closing body being connectable to said main body adjacent at least one of said first and second body ends when in said first limit position.  
     
     
         3 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said closing body pivotally connects to said main body about a pivot axis generally parallel to said body axis, said closing body being pivotable between said first and second limit positions.  
     
     
         4 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said channel defines generally opposed first and second longitudinal open side edges on said main body, said closing body including generally opposed first and second longitudinal components, said first and second components being connectable to said main body adjacent said first and second open side edges, respectively.  
     
     
         5 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said channel has a generally V-shaped cross-section.  
     
     
         6 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said channel has a generally U-shaped cross-section.  
     
     
         7 . The sleeve of  claim 6 , wherein the tower has a generally square-shaped cross-section, said channel having a generally square-shaped cross-section for slidably and selectively receiving at least part of a longitudinal section of the tower therein.  
     
     
         8 . The sleeve of  claim 3 , wherein said closing body defines first and second body segments, said first body segment pivotally connecting to said main body between said first and second limit positions, said second body segment being for sliding engagement with the tower when said closing body is in said first limit position.  
     
     
         9 . The sleeve of  claim 8 , wherein said second body segment includes at least one low friction surface member mounted on said first body segment for sliding engagement with the tower when said closing body is in said first limit position.  
     
     
         10 . The sleeve of  claim 8 , wherein said second body segment includes a roller assembly mounted on said first body segment for rolling engagement with the tower when said closing body is in said first limit position.  
     
     
         11 . The sleeve of  claim 10 , wherein said roller assembly includes a shaft and at least one roller, said shaft having generally opposed first and second longitudinal shaft ends, said first shaft end connecting to said main body, said shaft second end rotatably supporting said at least one roller for rolling engagement with the tower when said closing body is in said first limit position.  
     
     
         12 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said closing body defines first and second body segments, said first body segment releasably connecting to said main body, said second body segment being for sliding engagement with the tower when said closing body is in said first limit position.  
     
     
         13 . The sleeve of  claim 12 , wherein said second body segment includes at least one roller rotatably mounted on said first body segment for rolling engagement with the tower when said closing body is in said first limit position.  
     
     
         14 . The sleeve of  claim 13 , wherein said first body segment is a shaft, said shaft having generally opposed first and second longitudinal shaft ends, said first shaft end releasably connecting to said main body, said second shaft end rotatably supporting said at least one roller.  
     
     
         15 . The sleeve of  claim 12 , wherein said second body segment includes at least one low friction surface member mounted on said first body segment for sliding engagement with the tower when said closing body is in said first limit position.  
     
     
         16 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said closing body includes at least two components, each of said at least two components being connectable to said main body independently from each other, each of said at least two components being movable between said first and second limit positions, each of said at least two components at least partially closing off a respective section of said channel when in said first limit position.  
     
     
         17 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , further including first and second tower engaging bodies mounted on said main and closing bodies respectively for sliding engagement with the tower, said first tower engaging body extending inwardly from said main body into said channel, said second tower engaging body extending inwardly from said closing body into said channel when said closing body is in said first limit position.  
     
     
         18 . The sleeve of  claim 17 , wherein each of said first and second tower engaging bodies includes a roller assembly for rolling engagement with the tower.  
     
     
         19 . The sleeve of  claim 17 , wherein each of said first and second tower engaging bodies includes a low friction surface member for sliding engagement with the tower.  
     
     
         20 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said main body includes at least one actuator assembly for selectively securing and displacing said tower sleeve along the tower when said closing body is in said first limit position.  
     
     
         21 . The sleeve of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one actuator assembly includes a piston ram mounted generally longitudinally on said main body and a piston head support, said piston ram defining generally opposed first and second longitudinal ram ends, said first ram end pivotally mounting on said main body, said second ram end pivotally mounting on said piston head support, said piston head support slidably securing to said main body.  
     
     
         22 . The sleeve of  claim 21 , wherein said main body includes a head support guiding rail mounted thereon, said head support guiding rail slidably supporting said piston head support therein.  
     
     
         23 . The sleeve of  claim 22 , wherein said head support guiding rail includes a low friction surface member mounted thereon for sliding engagement with said piston head support.  
     
     
         24 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said closing body includes a securing member, said securing member releasably connecting to said main body for securing said closing body in said first limit position.  
     
     
         25 . A tower sleeve for sliding engagement with a tower, said tower defining a tower axis and a tower longitudinal sidewall generally parallel to the tower axis, said tower sleeve comprising: 
 a sleeve longitudinal sidewall for selectively covering at least a longitudinal section of the tower sidewall, said sleeve sidewall including a first longitudinal wall section and a second longitudinal wall section, said first and second longitudinal wall sections being generally transversely adjacent to one another, said second wall section movably connecting to said first wall section;    said second wall section being movable between a first limit position and a second limit position, said second wall section being configured and sized so as to secure said tower sleeve in sliding engagement with the tower when in said first limit position, and so as to allow said tower sleeve to engage and disengage from the tower in a direction generally transverse relative to the tower axis when in said second limit position.